Budding Readers hand outs 10,000th book

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By Wendee JacobsonMessenger Post

MPNnow

By Wendee JacobsonMessenger Post

Posted Nov. 7, 2013 at 5:01 PM

By Wendee JacobsonMessenger Post
Posted Nov. 7, 2013 at 5:01 PM

Canandaigua, N.Y.

HEMLOCK — Budding Readers marked its delivery of its 10,000th book to a family in Hemlock last week. The organization, based in Bloomfield, has provided free books and parent guidance about reading to babies and young children in Ontario County since 2007.

Nicole Carrier, of Hemlock, received the bundle Oct. 13 to read to her two and a half week old daughter, Cadence.

"It's just a great time to spend with them, and bond with them, and obviously the education is important to give her a head start," Carrier said.

Elizabeth Mosher, a former Bloomfield teacher, reading specialist and founder of Budding Readers, says reading 20 minutes every day to children is critical to their overall development, and to their future academic success.

"They're learning right from the moment they can hear, even in [the womb]," Mosher said. "Reading doesn't come naturally, but if they're read to every day it will come naturally."

Mosher said that reading is especially important now because of technology.

"We want them to develop a love of books so they are always something special to them, and something they are interested in and excited about," Mosher said. "We want them to love their books so they become their favorite toys."

Mosher explained that the Budding Reader program's mission is to educate and equip parents in Ontario County to read with their infants and young children and make it part of their daily routine. Parents of children under 2 years of age may contact Budding Readers to request free books for their baby — the program covers Bloomfield, Honeoye, Marcus Whitman, Midlakes, Naples and Red Jacket school districts.

In Canandaigua, books are also delivered through several agencies and programs.

Mosher said members of the program give mothers a variety of books including: developmentally appropriate board books, high contrast books, label books, pallium books (nursery rhymes, cumulative stories, and all kinds of genres, all kinds of textures and sizes.

Mosher shared some tips for parents reading to their babies including,"not reading every word and changing voices. Parents should find a cozy spot and make it a warm and comfortable time. It's a win, win.

Mosher said her time at Bloomfield showed her how parents can impact child success by teaching literacy.

"It will be very hard for them to catch up academically if they are not read to by their parents early on," she said.

For more information about the Budding Readers program email books@buddingreaders.org or www.buddingreaders.org.